At first it appeared as if the chemical would do it all — truly and everlastingly bring one to God. With time, however, we realized that the chemicals but showed one a possibility experientially when previously there appeared to be no possibility, or at best only an intellectual one.
In the United States there are literally thousands of people who have experienced through psychedelic chemicals something (?) which led them to undertake their spiritual journey with great seriousness (with or without further use of chemicals). For many of them (including myself), your books and messages have made the most sense, have felt right, have been an affirmation of our own deepest experience. It has seemed to us that man is so spiritually bankrupt in his consciousness that a chemical opening would be better than no opening.
It is true that LSD and other psychedelic chemicals do intensify the senses and indeed do lead at times to hallucinations. It is also true that most people who have used LSD have misused it. Responsibility must go hand-in-hand with its use if it is to serve as key and not crutch, liberator and not jailor.
Recently Allan Cohen (one of my past students from Harvard) visited us. Because you are present in such a real sense in our home, he felt at home with us. Yesterday we received a letter from him reporting the message Bob Dreyfuss was bringing from you — No drugs ! We called and spoke with Bob, but I, for one, felt the need for a little additional clarification.
Inside of me I feel that LSD has been a major influence in my own life of a positive nature and that the work I have been doing in the United States is humanly good. I also hear your message and understand that you probably do know.
At first I entertained the possibility that you did not understand that LSD is quite different (and, in fact, quite opposite from the opium derivatives). But reflection and communing with you via your written word, has failed to support my initial reaction. Thus, at present, I feel you do understand. I should like to understand also. Can you help me?
Baba stated that Richard Alpert was a sincere seeker, and therefore he dictated this detailed reply which was sent to him through Adi:
24 January 1966
Dear Mr. Alpert,
Your letter and the book sent by you to Meher Baba have been received and brought to his attention and he sent the following telegram to you [in Los Altos, California]: